Chain fastener



Nov. 1, 1927.

A. F. SOENKSEN CHAIN FASTENER Filed June 1. 1927 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

tts

ANDREAS F. SOENKSEN, OF DE WITT, IOWA.

CHAIN FASTENEB.

Application filed June This invention relates to chain fasteners and has for an important object thereof the provision of a device of this character which may be very readily and cheaply produced and which will securely hold'the chain in its locked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having apair of securing levers, each of which isheld in locking position by the strain applied to the chain and one of which serves to doubly secure the locking, of the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of this character, wherein the second locking lever may be securely held in inoperative position While the first locking lever is being seated in its looking position.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and whereinz- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain connector constructed in accordance with my invent-ion showing the parts of the same in closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the open position; v

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the connector with the parts in the closed position;

Figure 4 is a plan View thereof;

Figure 5 is a section on the hue 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally des1gnates side plates and 11 a base connectlng the side plates along corresponding edges thereof. At the opposite ends and adjacent the unconnected edges thereof, the side plates are connected by pivots 12 and 13 upon which are mounted bell crank levers k and 15. Adjacent the pivot 12 and 1nwardly of this pivot, the side walls are formed with correspondingly 'arcuately curved slots 16, by means of which anniserted chain link 17 may be engaged against an arm 18 of the bell crank lever 14; when the same is vertically disposed. These slots open through the free edges of the side plates 10, so that the chain link may be in serted therein or removed therefrom and the second arm 1901f the lever 14 is offset in the 1927,. Serial n 195,729.

general direction in which the arm 18 extends, so that the end of this offset combines with the arm 18 to provide a cove 20 in which the chain link 17 may be inserted when the lever is swung to the open posi tion. A chain link inserted in this cove is by rotation of the lever delivered into notches 16. The offset of the arm 19 serves the further function of bringing the lower face 21 thereof into engagement with the bottom of the base when the arm 18 is in that position in which it is maintained by ts engagement with a chain link 17, arranged in the slots. The free end of the arm 19 is provided on the face 21 thereof with a lug 22 engaging the basewhen the arm is in this position and maintaining the face 21 slightly spaced so that the fingers or a tool may be inserted between the arm 19 and base to shift the arm to the open position. To this same end, the side plates 10 are provided with aligned openings 28, rendering the arm accessible while positioned between the side plates. The side plates 10 are provided upon adjacent faces thereof with inwardly pressed tits 241, which resist insertion or re moval of the arm 19.

Adjacent the pivot 13 and inwardly thereof, the side plates 10 are provided with armate slots 25 through which an inserted chain link 26 may extend and when positioned at one end of the slot, engage against the shorter arm 27 of the bell crank lever when vertically disposed and constantly urge the same toward the ends of the plates so that the longer arm 28 will be constantly urged toward the base 11W The arm 28', when in this position, overlies the ofiset portion of the arm 19 and the tits 2 L engage in sockets 29 formed in opposite faces of the arm 28 and serve to maintain the same in position.

It will be obvious that the chain link 26 willalso serve to retain the arm in this position.

The slots 25 have their opposite ends so positioned that when the chain link 26 is,

lever.

to its closed position. Thus, during operas tion of the vehicle, when contact of the ClliLlII elements with the road will constantly tend to jerk upon the connections, there will be no tendency of the arm 28 to move to open position and if this arm is accidentally left in open position, it will automatically close.

Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed. 7

I claim:

1. A chain fastener comprising side plates, a base connecting the side plates along corresponding edges thereof, pivots connecting the side plates at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the free edges of said side plates, a bell crank lever pivoted upon each pivot intermediate the plates, said plates adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having arcuate slots with the lower inner ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed between said side plates, adjacent ends of the longer arms of the bell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are disposed between the side plates and one of the arms being offset to provide space for the reception of'the other arm and to bring the under face thereof into opposition to the base, the slots associated with the lever havmg the offset arms opening at their upper inner ends through the free edges of the plates, the slots associated with the other of the levers having their up er inner ends substantially aligned with tie 2. A chain fastener comprising side plates, :1 base connecting the side plates along corresponding edges thereof, pivots connecting the side plates at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the free edges of said side plates, a bell crank lever pivoted upon each pivot intermediate the plates, said plates adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having arenate slots with the lower inner ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed between said side plates, adjacent ends of the longer arms of the bell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are disposed between the side plates and one of the arms being offset to provide space for the reception of the other arm and to bring the under face thereof into opposition to the base, the slots associated with the lever having the offset arms opening attheir upper inner ends through the free edges of the plates, the slots associated with the other substantially aligned with the pivot of the pivot of the lever, the shoulder formed upon the under surface of the offset arm confronting the short arm of the lever and combining therewith to provide a notch for the reception of a chain link.

, 3. A chain fastener comprising Side plates, a base connecting the side plates along corresponding edges thereof, pivots connecting the side plates at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the free edges of said side plates, a bell crank lever pivoted upon each pivot intermediate the plates, said plates adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having areuate slots with the lower inner ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed between said side plates, adjacent ends of the longer arms of the bell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are disposed between the side plates and one of the arms being offset to provide space for the reception of the other arm and to bring the underface thereof into opposition to the base, the slots associated with the lever having the offset arms opening at their upper inner ends through the free edges of the plates, the slots associated with the other of the levers having their upper inner ends substantially aligned with the pivot of the lever, the under surface of the offset portion of the arm having a lug contacting the base to maintain the lower surface of the arm out of engagement with the base.

4. A chain fastener comprising side plates, a base connecting the side plates along corresponding edges thereof, pivots connecting the side plates at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the free edges of said side plates, a bell crank lever pivoted upon each pivot intermediate the plates, said plates adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having arcuate slots with the lower inner ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed between said side plates, adjacent ends of the longer arms of the bell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are disposed between the'side plates and one of the arms being offset to provide space for the reception of the other arm and to bring the under face thereof into opposition to the base, the slots associated with the lever having the offset arms opening at their upper inner ends through the free edges of the plates, the slots associated with the other of the levers having their upper inner ends substantiallv aligned with the pivot of the lever, the under surface of the offset portion of the arm having a lug contactirg the base to maintain the lower surface of the arm out of engagement with the base, said side walls having at the center thereof opposed openings through which access may be had to the longer arms of the lever when in closed position.

5. Admin fastener comprising side plates,

a base connecting the side plates along corresponding edges thereof, pivots connectlng the side plates at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the free edges of said side plates, a bell crank lever pivoted upon each pivot intermediate the plates, said plates adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having arcuate slots with the lower inner ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed be tween said side plates, adjacent ends of the longer arms of the hell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are disposed between the side plates and one of the arms being offset to provide space for the reception of the other arm and to bring the under face thereof into opposition to the base, the slots associated with the lever having the offset arms opening at their upper inner ends through the free edges of the plates, the slots associated with the other of the levers having their upper inner ends substantially aligned with the pivot of the lever. adjacent faces of the plates having inward'ly extending tits frictionally engaging the longer arms of the levers during insertion or removal thereof.

6. A chain fastener comprising a side plate, a base extending outwardly from the side plate along one edge thereof, pivots carried by the side plate at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the opposite edge of the side plate, a bell crank lever mounted upon each pivot, said plate adjacent to and inwardly of each pivot having arcuate slots with the lower-ends of which the shorter arms of the bell crank levers align when the other arms thereof are disposed against said side plate, adjacent ends of the arms of the bell crank levers overlying one another when the levers are so disposed, each of said longer arms embodying portions opposing said base, the slot associated with one of said levers opening at its upper end through the upper edge of the plate, a slot associated with the other of the levers having its upper end substantially aligned with the pivot of the lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ANDREAS F. SOENKSEN. 

